WHO Regional Director for Africa Begins 3-DAY Official Visit to Nigeria

WHO Regional Director for Africa Begins 3-DAY Official Visit to Nigeria

The WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti, will be in Nigeria on a 3-day official visit from 11-13 July, 2016 at the invitation of the Nigerian government.

During the visit, Dr Moeti will hold discussions with high ranking government officials and key stakeholders on matters of mutual interests, relating to health development in Nigeria and in the African region.

A statement issued by the Honourable Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, said: “The objective of the visit is to strengthen the collaboration between the World Health Organizationand the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

According to him, interactions during her stay in Nigeria will be centered on areas that require technical support from WHO in strengthening the health systems to achieve the health related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the context of revitalization of the PHC in Nigeria and the improvement of the country’s health indicators.

To further underscore the importance of the visit, this is the second time that the RD is making the trip to Nigeria in one year. Dr Moeti was in Nigeria in October 2015 to present the official communication from the Director General of WHO on the removal of Nigeria from the list of polio-endemic countries. The announcement followed the historic achievement of the country in interrupting the transmission of wild poliovirus for a period of 15 months, which exceeded WHO’s target for interruption at that time.

On the current visit, Dr Moeti will also meet key political leaders to brief them on the status of implementation of the WHO Transformation Agenda in the African Region, congratulate the Federal Ministry of Health on efforts to revitalize Primary Health Care in Nigeria towards achieving the Universal Health Coverage and attainment of the health-related SDGs as well as for the efforts towards certification of Nigeria as Polio-free country. While in Nigeria, she will discuss further, on support needed towards strengthening health systems in order to improve the country’s health indicators.

The Federal Ministry of Health, on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, welcomes the Regional Director, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti to Nigeria.